Observations from Iraq, Iran, Israel, the Arab world and beyond

LIBYA: NATO forces still on duty; Britain looks to end of regime

August 22, 2011 | 11:14
am

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the general secretary of NATO, said Monday that the alliance would continue its operations in Libya.

"Now is the time for all threats against civilians to stop .... We will continue to monitor military units and key facilities as we have since March, and if we see any threatening moves towards the Libyan people we will act in accordance with our United Nations mandate," Rasmussen said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said that the transition to a democratic state will have to be "a Libyan-led and Libyan-owned process," including bringing Moammar Kadafi to justice.

As for Kadafi's future, that should be a decision for the new Libyan authorities, Cameron said.

He said the immediate need would be to make sure that key infrastructure -- communications networks, power, fuel and water -- are secure.

"We will soon be able to release the frozen assets that belong to the Libyan people," Cameron said.

Cameron said he would emphasize to the rebels the need to avoid reprisals and to include "all parts of Libya" in the country's future.

In a Monday statement outside No 10 Downing Street, the British prime minister said the "vast majority of Tripoli"had come under the control of "free Libyan fighters," although the situation was "very fluid" and there was "no room for complacency," the Guardian reported.

Cameron was speaking after leading a meeting of the National Security Council regarding Libya. He broke off his holiday in Cornwall and returned to London on Sunday night as it became clear that Kadafi's regime was collapsing.